Every time I see quick-fist holding something deemed a projectile if an accident were to occur I cringe, but great idea on the bike cable to help secure it. Yeah they have their uses, but to hold a 40lb chuck of cast steel to the truck is in my mind insane. Could use muffler clamps to a piece of square 1 iron, with a 3/8 bolt in the tubing to accomplish the same thing and would be a ton more solid. I have my hi-lift mounted on the drivers side of the Gobi using the Gobi mount (the factory rear camera of the 2015 Xterra prevents the jack from fitting on the shrock rear bumper so until I can dough up for the camera to be removed and filled/ painted, the Gobi attachment was only $100 and will have to do) and yet people warn me that in a head on with enough momentum the risk is there to break the metal mount off and send the jack airborne. In a off road fully armored truck, if I hit someone head one with that amount of force, the last thing I'm worrying about is the jack with the Gobi mounting.
As for the ax/ shovel. I have seen D handle shovels under the X rear seat. However the spade looks like it could cut an Achilles tendon if someone were in the rear seat. The axe, no worries fitting almost any combo under the seat with no worries. I personally like a nice bow saw compared to the Axe, yet carry both (26" Husqvarna axe- gobi and 21" sven saw- under seat). Sven saws take up no room folded and will go thru wood faster than a beaver on crack. I have a shorter 16" I keep in my pack and have cut enough wood for a week to use in my Kifaru stove in an hour or two, with the outside temps being 0F or so, but I only use the stove for cooking or early morning to get ready in the tipi. Sven saws are amazing. Maybe look at this instead of a axe to save space. Now to just find a place for the shovel.... GI folding shovels are really versatile but are not for just flat out digging, but can be used, god knows Ive dug enough fighting holes in the Marines with one, to know that they will work. Just not an optimal tool. But they are compact and will easily fit the center console of a X if needed. So a 8 gallon action packer in the rear with some extra "just incase" items, like the GI folding shovel, could be a handy kit.
If you have not used a shovel yet offroad, maybe this route will get you by and give piece of mind and still be useable if needed.
